International

Players Chess News (1986)

A History of Chess Computers

1976 ~ 1978

Since their inception in 1976, commercial chess playing machines have consistently improved

in playing strength, reliability, appearance, ease of operation and price. The main point of

discussion in this article will be the price to rating strength ratio of machines on the market.

The latest crop of these machines offers one entering the Expert class, two of solid class “A”

strength, with two others bordering on low class “A”. Curiously, the rating of a computer is

not as stable as one might expect. It fluctuates more so than the average human due to two

factors:

1) whether the opponent is basically a strategic or tactical player (and other more subtle

“playing style” considerations),

2) how used the opponent is to playing against computers and more specifically, against the

computer at hand.

The human who has been playing regularly against different machines can probably count on

a new machine playing about 100 points below its “real’’ rating against him. And after

playing a lot of games specifically against the new machine he can possibly substract 50

points, once he gets to know it. It’s no wonder the top computer out now, the Novag Super

Constellation (officially rated 2018), which regularly beats experts, only seems to a computer

vet to be in the 1900’s. Granted it is a strong expert at speed chess. In order to understand

where chess computers currently stand, however, one must have a sense of the history of the

development of chess microcomputers.

Fidelity Chess Challenger 1

(foto: Tom Luif)

The first chess computers appeared in the late 1970s. These included the Fidelity Chess

Challenger 1 and Fidelity Chess Challenger 3, as well as Applied Concepts Boris (a small

wooden model). The mere fact that these toys could “think” was a novelty which caught on

quickly with the general public. However, with ratings of below 1000 these early computers

were less than challenging and therefore of little interest to the tournament player.

When manufacturers claimed various rating strengths for these machines, i.e. beginner,

intermediate and expert levels, they were demonstrating ignorance of the meaning of ‘expert”

rather than any attempt to deceive the chess playing world. In fact, the most primitive of these

machines would not capture en passant, castle or promote properly. One machine, now

classic, had the alphanumeric system backwards, with letters for the ranks and numbers for

the files. Nonetheless, these primitive patzer machines, which sold for under $400, were a

good beginning for what has become an exciting and challenging application of computer

technology to the high logic of chess. Most of the available machines were manufactured by

Fidelity and Applied Concepts.

Two companies, Tryom with the Electronic Chess and DataCash Systems/Staid with the

CompuChess (started up solely for the purpose of making chess computers (although Tryom

also produced a backgammon model); however, they could not keep pace and quickly

dropped out of competition when Fidelity came out with their Chess Challenger 10 which

ranked over the 1000 rating.

DataCash Systems/Staid with the CompuChess

(foto: Tom Luif)

1979

In 1979, prices dropped to the $100 range. Machines such as the Fidelity Chess Challenger 7

and Applied Concepts Boris Diplomat were released with no real strength improvement. The

next playing strength sophisticasion came with the Fidelity Voice Chess Challenger. The

rating went up about the same as the price (200 points). Gimmicks such as the voice, or

machines with little, snide messages running across a screen, were meant to uplift an

otherwise unchallenging game. These “innovations’ were a questionable use of the added

memory space, which could have been devoted to a more challenging level of play or at the

very least an improvement on move entry technique. Moves still had to be entered on an

external keyboard, leaving much room for error and “illegal” moves. Additionally, it was still

possible to enter the moves correctly on the keyboard yet position pieces incorrectly on the

playing board.

1980

In 1980, Fidelity came out with the first sensory touch board, the Sensory Chess Challenger

8. Now moves could be entered directly on the board by pressing the piece to be moved first

on its starting square and then on its destination square. The board, however, required a

concentrated, firm pressure on a precise point; nevertheless, this technology was far superior

to the external keyboard method of entering coordinates, eliminating the possibilities of

keying errors or move errors discussed above. Additionally, it went a long way toward

eliminating “illegalities” in moves. The price dropped back to the $100 range, while playing

strength advanced to slightly over 1200.

The novelty of having a machine that simply “made legal moves” wore off quickly, and

designers now began developing strategy on a higher level, incorporating time controls and

enhancing combinational considerations by the machines. These “toys” were good gift giving

items for beginners, But even non-tournament players found themselves straining for a good

game by giving these computers several hours per move (?!). Most players were still

disappointed with the weak responses.

Applied Concepts/Chafitz Boris/Sargon 2.5

(foto: Tom Luif)

The Spracklens, top programmers of the time, began concentrating on serious program

advancement with their Applied Concepts/Chafitz Boris/Sargon 2.5 program. Chafitz

marketed Boris/Sargon 2.5 as the first serious ‘tournament players’ computer in the form of

the then conventional key-punch system, calling it the Modular Game System. The system

could be up-dated with additional insertable modules. Chafitz also marketed a fancier version

of its system (a state-of-the-art program in updatable format) called the Auto-Response

Board. This beautiful wooden board, still available, incorporated magnetic reed relay

switches below each square.

There were magnets in each piece, which responded to the magnets at the squares. Of all the

machines of its time, the Auto-Response most simulated play with a human, sinds all that was

required was to move the piece (no pressing squares) and the magnets recorded the moves. At

$800, the machine was by far the most costly of its time. As a 1400-1500 rating, both

machines played Class C chess. A less powerful program, the Sargon 2.0 was made available

for Apple Computer owners. The 2.0 was a less challenging opponent, both because is was an

inherently weaker program and because is was software intended for a general computer

rather than a dedicated system.

1981

Fidelity started the year with their Voice Sensory Challenger in an attempt to compete with

thc top of the line machines. The machine, which integrated voice and sensory technology and

included a built-in chess clock, was contained in a plastic casing surrounded by a wooden

framed. The price ranged between $300 and $400. However, even with the additional

features, tournament players still preferred the Chafitz’s Modular Game System for playing

strength and updatability. 1981 proved to be a year of many changes for computer chess.

Chafitz discontinued marketing and distributing their two chess computers.

Thus, the two manufacturers, Applied Concepts (Modular Game System), and AVE Micro

Systems (Auto-Response Board) started marketing the machines on their own. However, in

the confusion of the break-up, the top programmers, the Spracklens, ended up working for the

largest manufacturer, Fidelity. It is important to note that, at least for marketing to tournament

players, the programmer is the most important element, even for some multi-million dollar

companies. Today’s battle is really between which individual programmer will refine and

enhance his program to the best possible playing strength and variety.

Fidelity’s main sales were of lower-end products until Dan and Kathy Spracklen joined their

team. They brought improvements in programming which virtually assured Fidelity’s top

position. Applied Concepts was also improving the quality of the product, with the Morphy

Edition master chess, which was a few points stronger because of middlegame

improvements. Morphy Edition master chess increased the strength of the Boris/Sargon 2.5

to an approximate playing level of high 1500. Morphy Edition master chess was available

for about $100 as a program up-date, which was a pleasant boost for owners of the Modular

Game System. Additionally, they changed the name from Modular Game System (MGS) to

the Great Game Machine (GGM).

Also in 1981 another pioneer programmer was busy working for Novag. This slick company

made its first strong appearance in America in 1981 with David Kittinger’s “My Chess”

program. Introduced in their Novag Savant machine, a hi-tech, touch sensitive LCD board

with a rating of approximately 1500 and a retail price of $625, the program ranked close to

the top but was relatively inaccessible because of price.

Novag Savant

(foto: Tom Luif)

The same was true of Novag’s Robot Adversary, which was an elegant machine priced at

approximately $1500 (about $1.00 per rating point). Both of these machines were ahead of

their time cosmetically, winning the prestigious New Product Award. However, the price/skill

ratio was less appealing.

Novag also introduced a weaker, smaller “My Chess” program (only 4K) in a hand-held

machine called Micro Chess. Priced as $140 with a rating of approximately 1000, this was

the only significant hand-held chess computer of its time. Kittinger had just moved from

Alaska to Los Angeles to continue his programming while making use of additional input

from strong masters. The Hong Kong based SciSys also made an appearance in December of

1981 with their Chess Champion Mark V. Programmer David Levy’s best effort won the

1981 ‘World Micro Championship, Commercial Section. To wrap up this significant, year -

all the companies top-of-the-line programs were nose to nose at a high Class C, nearly 1600.

This included Fidelity’s last quarter advancement after the addition of the Spracklen team.

During those few months, Fidelity added approxiamtely 200 points to its best machine to meet

the competition with their Champion Sensory Chess Challenger program.

The final 1981 retail price standings, with all machines rating at approximately a high “C”

level, were: Fidelity Champion Sensory Chess Challenger $375; Applied Concepts Great

Game Machine (MGS/GGM) with Morphy Edition master chess $350; SciSys Chess

Champion Mark V $398; Novag Savant $625.

At this point, all the machines were straining to become a solid Class B strength. However,

although all manufactuers are now familiar with actual ratings, most of them were claiming

“unofficial” ratings of 1700-1799. Things had gotten to the point where if any manufacturer

claimed thereal strength of their machine, which would have realistically been under 1600,

themachine would have appeared to be weaker than any of the competition and therefore

unmarketable.

1982

1982 saw Fidelity take the lead in sales of chess microcomputers to tournament players.

Novag was busy working on improving their programs. Applied Concepts introduced an

opening module (the Gruenfeld, priced at $100) and an endgame module (Capablanca,

$160) which only managed to take the strength of the entire system, priced as $600 to a low

Class B rating of 1600. SciSys updated the Chess Champion Mark V to their (Philidor)

Chess Champion MK VI program, which proved not to be significantly better than their

original. Prices dropped to an all-time low as rating strength stabilized.

It should be noted here that all rating estimates are based on tournament time controls of 40

moves in 2 hours. This distinction will become more important as we discuss later the newest

machines whose. ‘blitz’ ratings may exceed their tournament rating by as much as 200 points.

Fidelity’s 1982 introduction of the Chess Challenger 9 was designed to “blow away the

market” at an introductory list price of $165. Later the list increased to $195 as the coat of

electronica in all areas increased. Prices have continued to increase with each new generation

of strong machines.

Even so, the Chess Challenger 9 was a strong and affordable machine, with the same brains

as the Champion Sensory Chess Challenger but as half the price. It was 1982’s best buy

based on dollar to performance ratio. The Chess Challenger 9, however, did not have either a

wooden frame or a build-in clock.

Fidelity Champion Sensory Chess Challenger

Fidelity did finally decide to add the modularity (not to be confused with the Modular Game

Systems) concept to the Chess Challenger 9. The MGS was designed to accept program

updates (brains), while Fidelity’s could only be defined as modular, accepting raw

information (opening cartridges, etc.) but not updatable. This means that to significantly

improve playing strength the whole machine had to be sent to the factory for the guts to be

replaced. Now it was possible to purchase a strong program (about 1600) at a low price or pay

up to the list price of $600 for the Applied Concepts system, rated at 1600+.

The Conchess line of computers made an appearance with three inexpensive models, all with

the same program. rated at approximately 1600. There were three levels of size (Escorter/

Ambassador/Monarch) and craftsmanship, ranging in price from $250 to $400. Early in

1982, Fidelity also came our with the Elite Sensory Champion, a machine for those who

wanted the best available program. The machine was basically an advanced version of the

Champion Sensory Chess Challenger program, running at 3.6 Mhz. The stronger Elite

Sensory Champion program and faster clock speed put the playing strength at high Class B

(almost 200 points stronger than the Chess Challenger 9).

The limited edition of 500 pieces has long since sold out at a list price of $1000. Later in 1982

Fidelity produced the Prestige Challenger, the same basic program but in a much nicer

housing (similar to the Auto Response Board previously discussed), with an internal chess

clock and a price rag of $1295. So, 1982 offered the tournament chess player three good

choices: Chess Challenger 9, a low priced machine with decent strength; Conchess, with a

nice casing and decent strength, and Prestige Challenger, a top-of-the-line machine

combining beauty and brains.

The very original first Prestige Challenger with flat display! First owner: Dutch chess

computer pioneer Jan Louwman, and second owner Rob van Son (Photo by Rob van Son)

1983 In early 1983, the main choices remained Chess Challenger 9 and Prestige Challenger. But

for spice, the German firm Mephisto came on the American scene, offering a machine which

fell somewhere between the Chess Challenger 9 and Prestige Challenger in both price and

strength. The Mephisto II, a hand-held model, list for $350 and had a solid B rating of 1700.

A beautiful cabinet for the machine, with out additional “brains”, sold separatly for $550.

Other manufacturers appeared to be doing nothing. Is was becoming obvious that updatability

did not have much meaning, with regard to the strength of any individual machine. It had

more to do with the future of the particular company, their programmers and their updating

ambitions than any real potential of the machine.

Suddenly in the Fall of 1983, after a long quiet period, Novag unveiled their new Constel-

lation (2 Mhz), and also announced plans for their Super Constellation (first 3,6 MHz and

later 4 MHz), which would make its appearance in 1984.

Fidelity brochure from late 1983

At a list price of $199.95 and solid “B” strength, the Constellation put the Fidelity Chess

Challenger 9 and the Mephisto out of contention. Also, Kittinger had spent all his time

working on developing program modifications which allow the machine to play an especially

strong game on its first level with up to a five second response time. Another especially

welcome improvement was Novag’s sensor board, which is far more sensitive than the

competitor’s pressure sensitive boards. Entering moves on the Constellation, thus, falls

somewhere in between the hard press of the sensory games and the ease of the Auto-

Response.

Additionally, by eliminating the response lights on each square which are typical of

pressuresensitive boards and replacing them with prompt-lights on the proper coordinates,

Novag succeeded in eliminating one of the more distracting features of its predecessors.

Concurrently, in late 1983, Fidelity brought the cost of the larger wooden sets down with the

Elite A/S (Elite Auto-Sensory); similar to the Prestige Challenger in operation and playing

strength at one-third the price - $450. This was the lowest price ever on full size sets. So, at

the end of 1983 the two top programs offered at good prices were; in the inexpensive version,

the Novag Constellation, rated around 1700 and listed for $200, and in the expensive range,

the Fidelity Elite A/S, approaching 1800 and priced at $450.

1984 Early in 1984, Fidelity discontinued the 1983 Elite A/S model and put their Budapest

program into the Elite A/S casing, calling it the Elite A/S World Champion. This was a

well-deserved title, since Fidelity had just won the 2nd World Micro-Computer Chess

Championship in Budapest, Hungary, a few months earlier (late ’83). The Budapest program

brought the machine solidly over 1800. Customers with older Prestige Challenger machines

or the Elite A/S could send the machines to the factory for $150 up-date, and first time buyers

paid $600 list. Immediately after the Elite World Champion came out at Class A strength in

mid-1984, Novag stepped up their Constallation program to run twice as fast (from 2,0 to 3,6

Mhz), bringing its strength up to Class A also.

For an additional $50.00, everyone opted for the Novag Constellation 3.6 (‘Connie 3.6’

$250) and the slower verson is now discontinued Programmer Kittinger’s emphasis has

always been on speed, and now not only were the heuristics designed to play exceptionally

well at fast speeds but the chip speed was running faster. The speed chess level was almost

2000 strength (based on human opponent spending as much time, moving as quickly as the

machine), while the tournament level strength was low Class A (1800+).

All these statistics were taken at the time the machines appeared and continued to hold up in

tournament competition throughout the world, against humans and against other chess micros.

Of course the manufacturers still get a litlle excited about their own products. For instance,

both the Constallation 3.6 and Fidelity Elite A/S (Budapest) claim to be rated over 2000 by

their manifacturers. Well, perhaps the Constallation 3.6 is close at speed chess, but at 40/2

both had just entered Class A. Even so it seems now that rating claims are overstated much

less to than years before.

Late - 1984

At the end of the first half of ‘84 the 3.6 was heralded as being the best priced machine for the

playing strength, just as the Chess Challenger 9 was in ‘82. The Elite A/S (Budapest) was

the other tournament player’s choice for those opting for a more beautiful casing. It was

becoming clear that Novag and Fidelity were the two to watch. Fidelity produced two

attempts to compete with Novag.

1) The Chess Challenger 12, and Elite A/S downgraded both in strength (close to 1800) and

cosmetic appeal (half size with imitation metallic look and wooden border rather than full

wood surface). The price was brought down to the Novag Constallation 3.6’s $250.

However, the Constallation 3.6 stil remained king in that price range.

2) The Fidelity Elegance, also in the 12’s size, but much more handsome, retaining the

Elite’s full-wood look, was quite an improvement both in appearance and play. The pieces,

however, lacked a touch of class, It’s program was an Elite A/S update, running at the same

speed (3.6 Mhz) but with better programming. The Elegance program just tied for first in the

Fourth Micro Chess Championships in Glascow, Scotland, August ‘84 and appears to be close

to 1900 strength.

Fidelity Elegance (foto: Tom Luif)

Just as the Elegance was coming out, Novag relased their long-awaited Super Constellation.

The list price was expected to be $600.00, but Novag surprised us with in incredible low list

price of $399.95 ($600.00 with printer and clock). The other surprise which Novag had kept

well secret was the fact that the machine is now user programmable. The biggest surprise,

however, came late November when the USCF officially acclaimed the Super to be expert

strength. After 40 games of humans (average rating 1982) playing against 10 production off-

the-shelf models, the computer garnished 22 points. This 55% score under tournament

conditions netted in official rating of 2018.

Super Constellation vs Constellation 3.6 Some of the main differences between Novag’s Constellation 3.6 and Super Constellation

are:

1) 16 levels for the Super (7 lower levels so one can win occasion), while only 8 for the 3.6

(and no training levels). Tournament players like this feature since they can teach

wife/husband or kids to play the game and, after not to long, they will start winning and be

encouraged to move up the latter. The Constellation 3.6. for instance, would start off on its

lowest, instant response level by beating even intermediate players a hundred games in a row.

After such a string of losses, the average person becomes disenchanted and feels like he’ll

never be able to play the game competently. We suggest that if you get such a machine, plan

on losing - against is every time, use it as a tutor. Then trounce your human opponents. The

advantige of the Super, of course, is that you start monitoring your progres by seeing a ratio of

wins as you go up the “easy” levels. Also if you set a goal of, say reaching expert strenght,

you can progress in smaller increments and have the machine stil keep you interested even

when you reach your goal. And you’ll always have the lowest levels to beat up om if you even

find yourself disenchanted with progress. For anyone rated below 1600 the choice between

the 3.6 and the Super would be easier if the Super were presently priced at $600.00. However,

with the current cost being so closc the two main factors appear to be

a) Can one handle losing every time against the 3.6 with no out, until improvment finally

shows through and

b) is your goal to have a good, strong partner (if you don’t mind losing) or a tutor that can

help you set your goal at expert/master class rather than class ‘B’.

2) The Super is compatible with the Novag printer, while the 3.6 is not. If you find that you

have played a particularly brilliant or instructive game, you may print out the game in crisp

figurine notation with diagrams at instructive points. The printer may also be used to verify

positions in the computer’s brain or keep track of which opening variations one has

programmed in.

3) The Super accepts a clock for a more even match. Masters may spot time odds of five

minutes to three for an even struggle (the machine has been nick-named “blitz monster” after

winning games against IMs in blitz matches). Weaker players may give themselves the time

advantage. The clock may also be used singly for tournament chess, or to play speed chess

with friends.

4) The rating difference between the two machines is close to 200 points. Opening play is

much more varied with over 21,000 moves versus 3000. This should result in a better

middlegame starting point. The program has been written in a 56K format as opposed to 16K.

This allowed the programmer much room for advanced strategie heuristics. Now its positional

insight is more equal to its proverbial tactics. It will even sacrifice on positional grounds. The

endgame play is also much more enhanced. It will force a mate with bishop and knight versus

king, a feat no other computer can perform and many experts find difficult!

5) The internal clock speed is only 0,4 megahertz faster (3.6 Mhz versus 4.0 Mhz). This is

much less significant than the drastic program advancements as it very rarely allows it to see

even an extra ply (½ move) further. The fact that the machine plays a strong expert, close to

master speed-chess game has more to do with the promming.

6) The Super can be unplugged and the game still continued three months later, due to its

long-term CMOS memory. Thus, if you wind up in a losing position and “accidentally” knock

all the pieces over or trip over the cord ... well, the machine is still ready and willing to

continue.

7) If asked, the Super will display its depth of search at that moment. It also automatically

announces up to mate-in-four. If you are plaving along when unexpectedly on comes the

mate-in-four signal, you know already that it is time to hit the “take-back” key (followed.

perhaps, by the “hint” key).

Novag Constellation 3.6

8) Both solve mates and problems with amazing swiftness. Often, the Super will solve the

problem in seconds, faster than some Grandmasters!

9) With the Super, one can in effect aid the programmer by adding opening lines that you,

specifically, have a more difficult time against and need practice playing, either as White or

Black. You can also program in how often you would like to see each line appear. Now if you

find that you need to get a few fast wins in against the computer, just put in a couple. You

could have it open 1. g4 every time and after your 1 ... e5, have it play 2. f3 50% of the time

and 2. f4 the rest of the time. After mating it a number of times on h4 and proving it is not

invinceable, you can erase those moves from memory and do some serious programming. The

moves do not just stay in memory for a limited time. Rather, they become an integral part of

the machine’s permanent opening memory repertoire (although, of course, you can erase and

reprogram this repertoire).

Entering the moves into the computer’s bram is easy. It does not involve laborious keying-in.

Just play the garne naturally and each move you play is automatically ingrained into its brain,

as long as you are in programming mode. You can create your own monster - the variations

you dread playing will keep coming back in future games to haunt you. You may find after

drilling yourself through many games that certain variations you used to have a difficult time

playing against you now find easy to play. At that time you may steer the machine much

deeper down the line to a fork where you feel that the branch the machine usually opts for

poses fewer problems than one it plays less frequently (or perhaps the friend you’re trying to

beat plays the less frequent line). At that fork you can change the ratio of response - have it

play the move it usually opts for only 1 in 10 times, and the other move, 9 out of 10 times. If

you ever find that you master the line altogether then you may delete that line leaving space

for others. The deletion flexibility is especially important if you are close to the

programmable moves, which is 2400 half moves. This programmable feature is only of

optimum use to stronger players who are objective enough to recognize their own

weaknesses. Weaker players who purchase the Super and hope to get to master strength can

utilize this feature more fully as they go up the ladder.

Elite A/S dilemma Now the more costly Elite A/S (Budapest) only had beauty to show for itself as it was ranked

third behind the Super Constellation and the Elegance. It was more closely grouped with the

Constellation 3.6 and the Chess Challenger 12 in plaving strength. A good number of

people found that the never expected to beat the Super Constellation or the Elegance, or had

any realistic aspirations of doing so, They did not like the flimsy pieces on the Elegance, the

plastic of the Super Constellation and liked the size of neither. For them, the Elite A/S

Budapest was fine.

The main real advantage to getting the strongest program for someone at that level is that

although he or the never plans on getting to the point of bearing the machine regularly on its

higher levels, as least the machine will be providing a better game on fast response levels. In

addition to receiving a more challenging game without having to wait, also the stronger the

machine, the less likely the chance of outgrowing it.

Fidelity Elite A/S Challenger

Study by K.K. Behting, 1908

White plays and draws! Artificial Stupidity?

Naturally, if one is using the machine as a tutor, one inclined to take the advice of a stronger

program with less of a grain of salt than a lesser program. The machines are so strong now,

however, that most people can start to make compromisses between top strength and top

looks. Still some players wanted the beauty and a program ranking closer with the top models.

Shortly after Novag released their Super Constellation, Fidelity released a third version of

the Elite A/S. The program is exactly that of the Elegance’s, However, is runs 0.4 megahertz

faster (3.6 versus 4.0 Mhz), resulting in only perhaps a 10 rating-point gain. This program at

4.0 Mhz is 50 to 100 points stronger than the older Elite A/S Budapest, putting it close to

1900. So the dilemma was solved with the Elite A/S 4.0 ranking solidly in the top two. The

cost went up only $50 ($650 list), a healthy price/strength raise.

With a list price close to the Super’s, the comparison is easy-expensive, handsome cosmetics

(beauty) versus costly electronics/programming (skill).

Elegance vs Elite A/S 4.0

With a difference of $250 in price, the Elite/Elegance comparison is a little muddled.

1) Playing strength is approximately equal, both as solid class

2) Playing surface of Elite 4.0 is almost tournament size, with beautiful wooden pieces,

making for much more comfortable, natural playing.

3) Both machines have a modest number of built-in opening moves (several thousand)

intended to be supplemented with any of Fidelity’s opening cartridges, such as the CB9 ($78

list) with 8,160 moves or the CB16 ($120 list), with 16,100 moves. (The Chess Challenger 9,

incidentally, will only accept these two). The newer Fidelity models (such as the older

Prestige Challenger, all three Elite A/S’s, the Sensory 12 and Elegance) will all accept

these two general opening cartridges and the more specialized ones.

Also offered is the 5-volume ECO (Encyclopedia of Chess Openings) set (each volume,

$120 list) or the even more specialized Queen’s Gambit Tarrasch module ($120 list).

4) Unlike the Elegance, the Elite 4.0 has a built-in displayed chess clock. Besides the obvious

telling of time, one can see a number of insights the machine is trying to relay.

Fidelity Elegance Chess Challenger

For instance, it will display its assessment of the position in + or - fractions of points (+ 0.5

means it feels it is up the equivalent of half a pawn as a positional/material equation. It does,

occasionally, display minus scores - this is to make the human opponent feel better). The

clock will also display which ECO opening module should be popped in next, in the event

that a line should cross over to a different ECO volume (a rare occasion, and only useful if

one owns the ECO cartridge set, $600 list).

5) The Elite 4.0 has a long-term memory (as the Super Constellation),whereas the Elegance

is only short term.

6) The one advantage of the Elegance is that is has no voice. But rest assured, the voice on the

Elite A/S can be turned off. Actually, the voice may have a positive influence in stimulating

the interest of a youngster to tackle the game.

Opening enhancement All rating estimates given so far have been based on the machines performance without

utilizing any opening enhancements. The following comparison of these enhancements is

primarily between Fidelity’s complete set of ECO cartridges and Novag’s programmable

opening book and how they relate to the two primary aims of the opening ‘book” of a chess

computer:

1) to play these automatic moves quicker and

2) to create more difficult middlegame opposition.

We as Players feel that, in general, the opening is the least important phase of the game. One

of the primary reasons for increasing one’s depth of rote knowledge of an opening repertoire

is that is simply allows one to budget extra time to more signifiant middlegame and endgame

considerations. The set of ECO cartridges for the Fidelity machine override the much smaller,

built-in lines and increase the average depth of many lines to over 10 moves, setting the

machine in motion for a decent middlegame.

The set is especially good for beginners as they can see if the moves they are making are

respectable enough to be considered a main line (the cartridges contain only the main ECO

lines). However, the entire set probably increases the overal strength of the machine by only

25 points. Additionally, while ECO may assess a line as being slightly better for White,

equal, etc. these assessments do not have the same meaning for every player. “Good” and

“Bad” positions are relative terms.

More important than speeding up the opening with a vast collection of opening moves to

reach relatively even positions is to have the moves continue into the middlegame with

significant effect. Thus, the ECO set for Fidelity is less effective than Novag’s programmable

opening (more appropriately titled programmable middlegame) feature, since the Novag

approach may be used to specifically affect only the middlegames in which the user needs

practice. This approach has great significance for the serious student.

Imagine that every game played resulted in a middlegame where you found yourself having to

struggle, not just any randomly selected middlegame, but specificalty the ones that occur in

your opening repertoire. Every player finds that there are lines within his or her repertoire that

cause more difficulty than others. One lessen to be learned with a programmable middlegame

is how to steer the opponent away from these more difficult lines when thev are encountered

in tournament play.

If this is not possible, using the computer the player is able to learn how to counter and/or

handle these difficult middlegame positions through regular practice. Let us continue this

example in greater detail. Imagine, if you will, the average master playing against an expert. If

the expert is playing an opening where the middlegame plays itself (e.g, a thematic kingside

attack) and the master bas been steered into his least favorite line, suddenly the expert is

playing at least 100-200 points stronger than his usual play.

Similarly, if a 2200 rated player was playing the 2000 rated Super Constellation and

programmed in to enter only middlegames he despised playing, then the strength of the

computer goes up in like manner. Of course, the next player with his own repertoire who sits

down to play the machine will find its strength back to the original, because the machine is

only stronger specifically against the person who programmed it.

With the Super Constellation this is achieved by first changing the ratio of rcsponse of the

21,000 moves it comes with. Undoubtedly some of the machine’s lines will provide you with

difficult middlegames to play against with either color, After you select the cream of the crop,

the most difficult lines the machine has against you, specifically (probably a total of several

hundred or more, depending en how varied your opening repertoire is), then you add other

lines of your choice which are designed to pose you with difficulties. This process of aiding

the enemy works like an inoculation. Thus, curiously enough, the 2400 programmable half

moves of the Super Constellation are more significant than the tens of thousands of ECO

moves contained in the Fidelity cartridges on both of the opening qualities discussed earlier:

1) the game generally goes deeper into the middlegame, gaining time for later analysis and

2) the middlegame opposition is tougher.

To conclude: The Fidelity ECO system is good for the intermediate player to help widen his

or her opening repertoire. For the, beginner or intermediate player who purchases the Super

Constellation, the assumption is that the student will learn from the built-in book lines and

from a library of actual books. The student has probably set his sights On reaching expert or

master rating and will find the machine with its own book challenging to that point. When he

reaches his goal (or perhaps even at Class A) the owner can then take the time to boost the

machine’s strength with the programmable option (also by that time there will probably be

slight up-date on the overall strength of the machine).

Early 1985 The latest development in chess computers for 1985 is Fidelity’s Chess Challenger 12

running at 5 Mhz. The older Chess Challenger 12 ran at 3.25 Mhz, but both machines use the

same program, the Budapest. The increased speed of the Chess Chalenger 12 does not make

it stronger than the Elite 4.0 which has the Glasgow program, a one year further advanced

program. In other words, the increased program strength of the Elite 4.0 outweighs the greater

clock speed of the Challenger 12. The new Chess Chalenger 12 increased $100 in price over

its predecessor, from a list of $250 to the current list of $350. The rating strength increased

approximately 50 points. Another new computer has arrived on the market, the Turbo Star

from Scisys. Our computer experts are now testing this machine to evaluate its overall

strength.

Late 1985

Until Fall, the Super Constellation was the strongest machine commercially available and

should continue to offer the best price/performance ratio in the 2000 rating range into 1986.

The latest models coming off the line have an even lower defect ratio than the initial models,

which were already less than 5%. A larger version of the Super Constellation is in the works,

called The Constellation Expert - expect a November delivery.

With an extra larger program than the Super Constellation (64K vs. 56K) The Constellation

Expert will also feature substantial programming refinements. This should put in about 75

points higher than the Super Constellation, which has an official rating of 2018.

Moreover, The Constellation Expert will be a full sized beautifully finished auto-sensory

machine. But with a price-tag of $700, The Constellation Expert may have trouble meeting

the sales of the popular Super Constellation, with its healthy price/performance ratio.

Fidelity’s Elite A/S 4.0 remained a good buy as a beauty/brains model until the arrival of

Novag’s Constellation Expert. Mephisto is back with two upscale programs, the “S” and

Blitz, and five different choices for casings.

Their top-of-the-line model is the Munich S, a beautiful wood cabinet filted with costly

electronica. The name “Munich” describes the 17” x 17” casing. The “S” stands for the

expensive advanced program expected this Fall/Winter. Presenty, the Munich board is only

available with the Blitz program. Although the “S” program is much larger than the Blitz with

its 64K (and should break the 2000 harder), it is slower and hence better only at strategy. The

Blitz is better at fast response, tactics, and especially problem solving. Better positional play

should still put the Munich S as least 50 points ahead of Blitz.

AVE Micro Systems recently released their Sargon 4.0 program. This program should not be

confused with the Elite 4.0 or Prestige 4.0 program, although the casing looks very much like

that of the Prestige (without the clock). The playing strength is now Class “A” (although

claims over 2000 are made), a healthy class ahead of Sargon 2.5 or Sargon 3.0. The main

reason for the jump into Class “A” is that the original programmers for the Sargon 2.5, the

Spracklens, chipped back in to aid AVE Micro Systems. The rating is still a notch below

Fidelity’s Elite 4.0 program due both to the sophistication of Fidelity’s program and its clock

speed of 4 Mhz. However, with a program only slightly stronger than Fidelity’s new model

costing 1/10th the price, few players will pay the premium for what is perhaps the most

beautiful chess computer casing ever produced.

The dramatic development in late ‘85 is in the public arena - not in increascd playing strength

(non tournament players, who constitute the biggest market, can count on loting every game

against present top models and certainly don’t need anything stronger) but in improved

price/strength ratio in the lower range, Fidelity’s new Excellence model would have been top-

of-the-line only a few years ago, doubtless carrying an expensive price-tag (the original

plastic Elite listed for $1000). But the Excellence cost only about $100 with a perfectly

decent playing strength of about 1800.

Chess computer manufacturers have a long history of overrating their machines. The only

computer officially expert rated is the Super Constellation as 2018, yet Novag continue’s to

claim a strength of over 2200. Such boasting is unnecessary since as its real strength it offers

the best price/performance ratio for stronger players. Fidelity is guilty of the same

exaggerations in the lower-end range with the Excellence, boasting a strenght about 200

points too high. Imagine trying to have an 1800-rated program running on inexpensive

electronic components - the result could be even more quality problems than Fidelity’s

expensive machines now experience. And it is not reasonable to expect the Excellence’s

program which is only half the size of the Elite’s, to be as strong as that machine’s. It runs

25% slower than the Elite’s and contains only 60% of the opening moves. Also, the machine

is not modular, and is incapable of accepting a large opening repertoire, or update.

The 3 Mhz clock speed is misleading since the program runs a cheaper processor yielding an

even slower comparative speed. One advantage, however, of this procescor is the increased

battery life: now the machine will play 100 to 200 hours on a set of four batteries.

Fidelity has plans to submit the Excellence to the USCF for an official rating, the second

entrant to take this bold test after the Super Constellation. The hope is that the machine will

come out with a rating over 1800, but that even if it fails significanrly short of that goal - say,

low class “B”, It will still be by far the best buy for the dollar in the $100 price range, two

other models are all below class “B”.

The next models up, the Chess Challenger 12 and Constellation 3.6 both list for $250 and

are at best only slightly stronger. Some impatient customers may still opt for the Novag

Constellation 3.6 since it plays a much stronger speed chess game. Relatively speaking, the

Fidelity Excellence is poor on fast response levels and needs 5 to 10 minutes per move for its

strength to flourish. Other customers may opt for the handsome walnut-framed Chess

Challenger 12 for cosmetic reasons, as the Excellence looks a hit like a home-made model

kit.

Even the plastic Constellation series look very handsome, with a robust casing in which one

can see the work of a highpowered team of designers. And the cost is not that much more -

less than $100 difference after discounts (The Excellence lists for $225, plus $12.95 for the

adaptor).

Stil, all in all, we feel the Excellence is the best buy for the dollar in the lower price range and

will help anyone rated class “C” or below improve quickly. Ones one reaches class “B” or

“A” the machine becomes more a sparring partner, useful for keeping the player on his toes.

In order to make full use of a chess computer as a tutor er self-improvement tool, its playing

strength should be at least one solid class ahead of the player’s so that he can respect its

advice and can plan on frequently losing and learning.

But even the non-tournament player, who can anticipate not winning on tournament time

settings, will find the faster response levels easy enough to show him a win on occasion. So it

makes a great gift even for the total novice (unlike the regular Constellation, which Novag

should probably have built in training levels as they did with the Super since its number 1

level of 0-to-5 seconds response is not much worst than the slow response levels; on all levels

the person en the street can count on losing).

Customers who cannot contend with the Excellence’s quality control have two options that

were top-of-the-line models in their time, and which have been reduced substantially because

they are used Great Game Machines with all three cartridges (over 1600 strength) $99.95

(including adaptor); or regular Constellations, rebuilt $175, used $125, with used adaptors,

$9.95.

Stronger players (class “B” and above) and lower-rated players ambitious to reach an Expert

rating (the aspiring junior, for instance) will find their best buy in the Super Connie. Experts

regularly use it to keep in form - even a few Masters have bought the machine, finding it

sufficient to provide a real challenge, and enough of a sting to keep their interest. Masters can

utilize the programmable opening book to steer themselves into middle-games that are part of

their repertoire, but pose paricular difficulties.

To summarize, our recommendations for good choices in late 1985 are as follows: Fidelity

Excellence - fine for the less ambitious player and as a gift for the casual player (e.g. most

people.) Novag Super Constellation - appropriate for the serious tournament player looking

to improve. And with its lower training levels, even an ambitious beginner has the whole

spectrum ahead of him.

Mephisto Blitz - ideal for the problem solvist. Fidelity Elite A/S - for the person who

appreciates beauty and brains. You could, patience notwithstanding (= onverminderd -

ongeacht), wait for the Constellation Expert.

The matter of ratings It should be noted that Novag is the only company to have their computer officially rated by

the USCF computer rating agency. Most companies won’t risk permitting their products to be

officially rated because of the possible bad press if theirs does poorly, The Chess Federation

allows any production or experimental models to play in regular rated human tournaments

(eg. U.S. Opens). However, since they cannot monitor the legitimacy of “on-market” models,

all computer entrants are considered experimental. Therefore many are supped - up to their

max. One supped - up program (faring very well as such) has been made to run very

powerfully in tournamcnts is has competed in, the Sargon III. Commercial models are much

less impressive.

Software vs dedicated machines Substantially stronger than the Sargon II, the III is the best software (diskette) program out.

However, since the program was designed for the casual player already owning a home

computer, the manufacturer cannot economically staff a team of programmers to approach the

strength of state-of-the-art dedicated models. The weaker programming in conjunction with

the limitations of home computers (previously discussed) in for instance a standard Apple

computer (running at 1.2 Mhz) will play a slower, weaker game.

Still, one can achieve a 1600 level game. The diskette is a good buy, but there is still some

charm lost from having to key in moves, watch the board on a screen and then move the

pieces on a real board. Playing against a dedicated machine that actually “thinks” is quite

different. Many people owning a home computer will ask for a chess diskette simply because

they already own a computer. What they mean to ask is - What will give me a good game of

chess?

Familiarity breeds contempt Some computer owners have tent their machines in for an update (eg. up-grade to a Budapest

program) and were disappointed to find that the improvement was very slight, so slight for

some that the machine actually seemed weaker. This may have been due to the human having

improved against the first edition and improving in the couple months it takes to get it back.

However, chances are that the player was comparing his cumulative win/loss ratio on the

older version (where he may have had many more initial losses) to his current record against

the update. Incidentally, the Glasgow program is a more significant upgrade.

Although the top program out, the Super, boasts an official rating of expert, a number of the

stronger, seasoned chess computer vets on gut feeling estimate after a solid month with the

machine, even its strength to be slightly under 2000, high 1900’s (without utilizing the

programmable opening book).

These prosusually underate chess computers by far more thans 25 to 50 rating points. Maybe

they need more time to attempt uncorking any quirks they may discover. These hard cores

know exactly how to play against computers. The human player has a distinct advantage – he

learns how to play against the machine, even subconsciously picking up on its weaknesses.

Two human opponents playing regularly against each other will attempt different late-

opening/middle game lines and after the orther sees that he is losing, he adjusts and unleashes

a different middlegame strategy.

So, the ultimate goal is to produce a machine varied enough, good enough that you never

catch on to his tricks; you can never learn to beat it automatically. Lacking that, a machine

that learns to play against you. Well the Super has achieved the goal on both counts to some

compromising degree. Opponents will find that they are actually improving, not just

uncovering weaknesses in the machine. With the earlier, weaker models, once you discovered

certain failings (entire books elaborate on these deficiencies), you could beat it at will.

Players would go through all kinds of contortions trying to make the machine’s game better,

such as opening up files one usually wouldn’t, playing unsound sacrifices, or just playing an

inferior game. With the Super’s advanced middle game and endgame positional

understanding, its weaknesses are much more subtle (a master’s are even more subtle) and

hardly as predictable.

To most people the machine is unbeatable (excluding training levels of course). But for the

expert or master, as they try different lines and find ways of outwitting it, i.e. learn the

machine, it won’t quite learn back. However, with the owner’s assistance the computer can, in

a sense, learn how to improve on its play and “learn” to beat its master. No long does

familiarity with a computer necessarily breed comtempt. The computers now are so good that

even after becoming intimately familiar with their style, their playing strength remains about

the same.

Source: 11-1986, International Players Chess News: A History (Recap) of Chess Computers.

(Slightly edited by Hein Veldhuis.)

___________________________________________________________________________

Last Updated on January 16, 2010